My Next Adventure- IRELAND!

Well, I started this blog to document my adventures in AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps. Now I've got another adventure to start, exploring Ireland! I'm SO excited!!! I figure it's time for me to pick up my blogging again. 
I currently don't know tons of details. But I'll tell you what I do know!
The first thing I did was talk to the professor in charge of the whole exchange program. He told me my different options and gave me brochures. I chose to apply to the National University of Ireland Maynooth because it has an education program and I've always wanted to go to Europe. Once I made my decision I began working on my application. I had to write an essay, apply, and get reference letters. I chose my professors, wrote my essay, filled out the paperwork, then turned it in. Well, mix in a ton of praying too! 
Applications were due October 1st but I turned mine in a week before then. Decisions were to be mailed out  October 5th or 6th. Monday came around and I texted mom and dad about a billion times asking if the mail came. Turns out, that day was Columbus day. No mail. Well, the next morning I was literally walking into my first class when I got an email from the professor in charge that said "Benton, please come to my office at your earliest convenience." I HAD TO SIT THROUGH TWO WHOLE ONE HOUR AND 15 MINUTE CLASSES!!! It was pure torture! And the whole time all I could think was that he wouldn't call me to his office to tell me I wasn't going. Surely I had to of gotten it! So I finally get to his office later that day and he tells me that I've sort of got it... sort of. 
I almost started crying right there in his office but I held it together and asked what that meant. He said that the exchange committee loved me and said they had to send me to Ireland. But, (yeah...) they also loved someone else. I swear my heart sort of broke in that moment. There was only one open spot. But, they wanted us both to go so they wrote to the man in Ireland who is in charge of the exchange program telling him the situation and asking him to give us another slot. They got a response that said he was out of the country and would email when he got back. This went on for a week. It. Was. Horrible.
Come the next Tuesday, I was getting pretty down. There is a deadline and if they didn't hear back from the man in time, I would miss it and lose my chance to go to Ireland. So, that Tuesday we discussed my other possibilities. We decided I could go to one of two German schools that have English courses (which is my concentration for Elementary Education). We got me some pamphlets and discussed what would need to be done to go to Germany. So I left his office super bummed out that Ireland was gone but thinking that maybe this was God's plan instead so I was trying to embrace Germany! 
Well, literally less than 2 hours later, I got an email from the professor that simply said "Ireland- you're in." I screamed and jumped and wooped! I was SO excited! 
So, all I know is that I will be in Maynooth, Ireland which is 25 km from Dublin. I'll leave in January sometime and get back three or four months later. I have a list of places I want to go but I am always up for any suggestions! I don't know who else is going from FMU but I know we'll meet at some point before we go. I meet with the professor who is in charge of the Ireland campus tomorrow and give her all of my paperwork and whatnot so far and hopefully get some more detailed information. We will also work on what classes I will take. 
I'm SO excited! I know I've already said that but I REALLY mean it!!! It's still sort of surreal that I'm going. I'm so blessed beyond belief in the many opportunities God has given me. And without the support of my wonderful parents none of these experiences would have been possible. I've been thinking back to my mindset in high school and I never would have thought that I would have traveled and experienced as much as I already have or will. God is good and I think he is leading me down a path that he is in approval with. I try to pray for his will to be done instead of what I want. Don't get me wrong, I totally tell him what I want. But I really try to ask him for his will to happen. That's something my momma has really taught me to ask for. Luckily, it seems that this is in his plans and I am SO happy! 
So, I leave you with a picture of me and my acceptance letter, a link to my website and a promise to update again (hopefully) tomorrow when I have (hopefully) more information! Good night everyone:)

http://www.nuim.ie/
xoxo,
B

leaving joplin, mo

i've been in joplin since june 10th and today is my last day here. it's so strange to think that i'm done here. having seen all the different sides of disaster management was just a very surreal experience. i worked in missing persons, worked with group intakes so that we could have large group volunteers, worked to welcome volunteers, helped with our volunteer center making sure we had food and all that we needed in order to run on a daily basis, done data entry so that we can catalog all the information here, and worked at debris removal in the field. overall this has been just an amazing experience. meeting all of the different volunteers who have traveled so far to come and help is just so uplifting. talking to the families affected by the storm and hearing how thankful they are for all we do is heartwarming. even though the circumstances are just horrible, i'm very glad i got to come to joplin and meet all of the amazing people.
yesterday was my last day of work and i spent it working in the field doing debris removal. today i got to sleep in(!!!) and now i need to go pack up all my things then we're cleaning up and we'll have a team dinner together and then pack our vans. tomorrow morning we leave for denver. the drive will take two days so we'll be back in denver on thursday. friday we have some office work to do and then we get a week off from work. working 12 hours a day 6 days a week i think we've earned a week long vacation! after that, everyone else comes back to campus and we'll start doing our debriefs and other office work to wind down from this round. i graduate from the program on the 29th and then i'll fly back home.
i can't believe my americorps experience is almost over. i remember my first day in denver and how excited i was and all the trainings we went through and each project we've had and how hard we've been working. some days the ten months seemed like they would never get here and some days i wished i could slow the days down and enjoy them longer. it's been awesome being able to work with such an amazing team that i've come to love and to see how different we are and yet how we can all come together and get things done. it's awesome to meet so many volunteers at all of the places we've worked and to see how driven so many people are to help others. it's been such an amazing time!
for now, i have to go pack but i know i'll write again soon:)
hope everyone's doing wonderfully
xoxo,
B

joplin, mo

being in joplin is still kind of crazy to me. i can't really believe that i'm a part of this massive effort. every single time i ride through the disaster zone it's just mind blowing to see the destruction. it's something i could never get used to. but the locals and the volunteers that are here helping to clean up are just amazing. it's so horribly sad to ride through the area and see nothing but piles of debris but it is uplifting to see how many people are coming out to help.
the missing persons center is closed. everyone is accounted for which is a blessing. that was emotionally draining for me. i might talk to 45 people in an hour and hear all these stories that are just horrible but how these people amazingly survived. but to just have that one phone call an hour where the people still couldn't find family members that just made everything so much harder. that was one of the hardest jobs i've ever had.
now, i'm working at the vrc- volunteer reception center. i'm the food poc here (just like i am on my team!) except i'm feeding every single americorps person (over 100) and the different volunteers that come through here everyday. this is a seriously stressful job too! having to make sure we always have a meal and snacks and water and gatorade is a challenge but it's wonderful to hear everyone say how good the food is. i'm getting the hang of it and have this weekend and all of next week planned but after that i'm kind of in the dark. trying to get everything sorted out. if anyone is willing to donate any meals or snacks or please please PLEASE let me know. we could really use it. we're all out of gatorade and our snacks are beginning to run low and a lot of places have been repeatedly donating to us and everyone else so donations are kind of dwindling.
anyways, that's about all i have for now. gotta go get back to work!
hope all is well with everyone
keep praying for joplin
xoxo,
B

disaster relief in joplin, ms

hey yall
i'm in joplin currently
was first in ruidoso, nm for two weeks doing trail work, yard work and in the caves. then i went to alamogordo, nm for a week and a half painting the historical buildings at white sands national monument. it was awesome working at such a beautiful place.
we were told on tuesday after work last week that we had been called to go on disaster and so we packed up that night and headed out in the morning. it took us two days to arrive and once we did the first thing we did was check in with the other americorps groups and then go on a tour of the part of the city that got hit.
it was horrible. the land is literally flat. just flat. there's debris and knocked over trees. one tree had a piece of metal that had literally sliced through the tree and was hanging half way through the tree. we saw pictures before the storm and afterwards and it's just insane to see the difference but to literally see it not just through a picture but in real life. and to watch the people in their yards. it was so horrible.
we arrived on friday night and got all unpacked and went grocery shopping and saturday morning we started work. i've been working these two days in the missing person call center. hey tell you hearing how happy people are when they tell you not to worry because they've found their loved ones. but it's heartwrenching to hear the stories. especially the ones from people who have lost loved ones and people who are still missing loved ones.
i find myself praying constantly. it breaks my heart to hear these stories. i keep getting people telling me how thankful they are for me and americorps and what we're doing for the city and it makes me so proud to say that i am a part of an organization that is making such a massive impact on this town. there's americorps nccc and americorps state and national teams here so it's just a huge gathering of us getting things done.
a couple of people on my team went into the city yesterday that wasn't affected and handed out information to people. the rest of my team working in the field cleaning up debris. there's tons of debris. we were told there's more debris here than there was after the attacks after 9/11. and after seeing it i can believe it. it's overwhelming. i keep thinking about when i was working in nola for two months and how it was five years after the storm and how people are still without houses and how houses still haven't even been gutted. it blew my mind then to see all that damage and to realize that it would probably be another five years before more houses were fixed. to have experienced that and then to experience this has been i don't even know. it's overwhelming seeing all this distruction. and having that first hand experience breaks my heart because i can see the destruction and i know it's going to take years and years to get things back up. it's so sad to know that.
but on the other hand, i've talked to every person who called with missing family members or friends if their names fell under a's or c's and everyone was so thankful and so positive and thanking god. it was very uplifting.
i'm kind of in a trance like status currently. i'm not too sure how to feel or how to act. i'm proud to be working for such an amazing cause. i'm so glad i can know i'm helping as best as i can. but it's exhausting both physically and mentally.
we live in a gym with the other americorps teams and it gets really loud at nights with all the guys snoring! we have three toilets, three sinks and 9 showers (only 7 work) for all the girls. it's a lot of waiting and not a lot of space. but luckily, by the time we're off pretty much everyone has ran to their sleeping bag to nap.
i need to go for now but i wasn't sure how much more time i'd have working here inside so figured i should go ahead and update this.
i hope all is well with everyone. please pray for joplin. pray for peace, strength, happiness and recovery. and be thankful for how blessed we are. god is good.
xoxo,
B

heading to alamagordo, nm tomorrow!

well, today is memorial day and we had a MASSIVE lunch with all the good stuff- burgers, dogs, corn on the cob, watermellon, cherries, beans, chips, sweet tea and cake:) i'm so thankful for my little brother weldon and all he is doing for our country. soon he will leave for afghanistan and risk his life for our freedom and i am so proud to say he's my little brother.
for the past two weeks we've been in ruidoso, nm. it's been a big adventure! i've done a ton of trail work, spent a day making a garden at a local boys and girls club, cleaned up around the fort AND been caving (which was AMAZING!!!). i've had a great time here and can't believe how fast these two weeks went by. my next door neighbor is a local cop and he has a horse named tater so i've been able to ride him and i go visit him every day and brush him and give him peppermints and so that's a great break from everything. i'm more sad of leaving tater than leaving the city!
tomorrow morning we leave for white sands national monument in alamagordo, nm. we'll be there for one month camping and doing maintenance and trail work at the park. i've seen lots of pictures and it looks beautiful there. i've heard from locals that it's a good 20 to 30 degrees hotter there than it is here and you get burned easier so i've invested in more sun screen:)
i'm sure everyone knows about the storms in missouri. well, americorps nccc focuses on disaster relief so i've been informed by my team leader that if headquarters sends a call to my campus saying send teams then our team is at the top of the list to be sent. so far we don't know for sure if we'll go or not but the funds have been transferred to our account in order for the travel and hotel stays so my team leader says the chances are huge that we'll get sent. i'll let yall know as soon as i find out.
i can't believe i only have two more months in americorps. it's crazy how time flies!
hope all is well with everyone else
all my love
xoxo,
B

ruidoso, nm

well, i'm here in ruidoso new mexico finally! my last project round in americorps nccc. i can't believe my ten months are almost over. it truly flew by.
ruidoso is SO small. smaller than hartsville because most people live in the mountains. the city is so small and all the stores close by 8 except walmart. it's beautiful up here though. we're higher here than we were in denver, co. it's SO sunny and i'm already sun burned:( the work is super hard but rewarding seeing the trails we've made so far in just two days. it's hot up here but the wind is always blowing so it always feels pretty good. at night the stars are AMAZING. i tried to take a picture but it just didn't work out. we live at fort stanton which is a super old fort from the mid 1800's and it's on private land in the mountains with our only neighbors being the local police who live there for cheap. we never lock doors and always leave windows open. it's very freeing and open. the fort is fascinating to me and i've loved exploring it. they used it to chase indians away, then to protect the towns around it, then it was taken over by the south during the civil war, then it became a camp for captured germans during the world wars, then it became a hospital for tuberculosis patients, then it became a women's prison and then a youth prison. all that history and i'm loving it! i sometimes get one bar of service but usually it's temperamental. internet is out of the question! we're about thirty minutes from town and so luckily we can drive in on the weekends, i'm currently at the library. let's seeeeeeee i'm not sure what else to say at the moment. my mind is kind of fried because i'm so tired lol i'll update again soon!
xoxo,
B

end of round 3- shuffle round

i cannot believe that i have only two months left of americorps. the time has flown by so fast it's amazing.
round three at garden place academy with my shuffle team was wonderful <3 my class was third grade and they were all so amazing. i'm really going to miss them. i taught my class social studies and history and science everyday among all the other things we did. it makes me so sad to know that after this next week i'll probably never see them again. but i know that we helped them a lot and that makes me so happy. they have a school wide dance this coming saturday and so quite a few of us are going to go to that and i know it will be awesome.
currently, this is transition week. meaning, we do a lot of nothing really in between meetings and paperwork.
next week my original team leaves for new mexico and our next and final project. here is the description i have so far and this is all i know about it for now:

Project #20     **Note: This project is a packaged project**

EcoServants & White Sands National Monument (APD: Vicky Reinold)

Project #20a

EcoServants

Ruidoso, NM

Dates: May 16 – May 27; June 25 – July 21 (Subject to Change)

Sponsor: Stephen Carter

Housing: Dormitory

Team: Fire One

Team Leader: Tim Boyle

EcoServants has the mission “to employ, engage and educate youth to serve and restore the community and its resources.” They started as a cave stewardship organization and quickly transformed to a youth corps summer program, which has run since 2006. In 2007 EcoServants started an AmeriCorps State program which placed full time members in 4 schools and an after school program. We are now expanding the program further, and request NCCC assistance for the following project tasks:

·         Corps Members (CM's) would clear, design, build, and restore trails. They would also be restoring and building park facilities such as kiosks, shelters, restrooms and outdoors education laboratories. They would be removing noxious weeds, repairing fence lines, building animal passes and watering system.

·         Caves take the CMs underground where they will inventory and map the cave’s environment, helping with cave management by completing tasks such as: leading and or inspecting groups going in and out of Fort Stanton Cave (FSC), restoring formations damaged by human impact, and removing graffiti. CMs could also design and give public presentations on caves, bats and White Nose Syndrome to help protect caves. CM's would be a part of the exploration of the newly discovered Snowy River Cave by restoring and creating trails or foot steps for expedition work, hauling equipment such as gates, cement, scientific and video equipment, survey gear, metal and plastic tunnel pieces and bridges.

·         Using ArcGIS and a Trimble Global Positioning Unit, CMs would be assisting in mapping and inventorying area trails and parks, establishing safer walking and biking routes, recording distances, slope and accessibility.

·         CMs might also support preparation for and implementation of weeklong Wilderness Camp for youth.

Project #20b

White Sands National Monument

Alamogordo, NM

Dates: May 28 – June 24 (Subject to Change)

Sponsor: Bill Melendez

Housing: Camping

Team: Fire One

Team Leader: Tim Boyle

Rising from the heart of Tularosa Basin is one of the world's great natural wonders- the glistening white sands of New Mexico. Here, great wave-like dunes of gypsum sand have  engulfed 275 square miles of desert and created the world's largest gypsum dune field. White Sands National Monument preserves a major portion of this unique dune field along with the plants and animals that have adapted to this constantly changing environment.

The NCCC team will work with the facilities maintenance department on the following infrastructure improvement projects: help to resurface stucco exterior walls on buildings in the Historic District, help prepare concrete bases to mount grills in picnic areas throughout the Park, paint vigas, window frames and doors on several structures throughout the Historic District, assist in the removal and installation of fence rail to enlarge a parking area in the Inner Dune Life Area.

overall, i think this project will be awesome. i know our team is really excited about it and from the pictures i've seen online it looks like both sites will be beautiful! 

before i go, i'd like to say happy mother's day to all of the amazing moms i know especially my own amazing mother. i love you so much
xoxo,
B